Mavs Land Number One Pick, NBA Rigged, Jayson Tatum Injury

·43 min·4 clips

The Dallas Mavericks landing the top pick after trading Luka Doncic raises suspicions the NBA draft lottery is rigged.

Isaiah Kitt opens the episode from a rainy Tuesday in DC, reflecting on a busy NBA night with multiple storylines. He begins by discussing the NBA draft lottery results, focusing on the Dallas Mavericks improbably getting the top pick after trading superstar Luka Doncic to the Lakers. Kitt expresses skepticism about the lottery's fairness, listing historical examples like the Knicks getting Patrick Ewing in 1985, the Cavaliers drafting LeBron James in 2003, and the Bulls selecting Derrick Rose in 2008 as evidence of suspicious alignments. He also mentions the Pelicans landing Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson under similar circumstances. Kitt then shifts to comparing the NBA's model to the NFL's, arguing the NFL's parity allows any market to succeed, citing players like Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City and Josh Allen in Buffalo. He highlights an imbalance in the NBA, with most top players like Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the Western Conference, while the East struggles for stars, especially if Giannis Antetokounmpo is traded and Jayson Tatum is injured. The episode delves into Tatum's injury during the Celtics-Knicks playoff game, with Kitt speculating it might be a torn Achilles based on the replay. He praises Tatum's performance in that game but notes the Celtics looked old and might need a roster overhaul. Kitt reflects on championship windows, emphasizing the role of luck and health, using examples like the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots. He wraps up with playoff updates, including the Timberwolves leading the Warriors and the Pacers having a chance to clinch, before teasing future NFL content.

As heard by us

A lively NBA review ties Cooper Flagg, lottery luck, franchise history, and playoff pressure into one restless argument.

A rainy Tuesday episode of The Isaiah Kitt Podcast works through a chaotic Monday night in the NBA, shifting from draft-lottery irritation to second-round playoff stakes.

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Why you'd press play

You want Cooper Flagg, draft-lottery luck, and a messy NBA Monday sorted without losing the heat.

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